Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-08-04
TRIPLE S0MERSAULTS.
THE REASONS WHY so FEW OF
THEM HAVE BEEN TURNED.


Several Attempts Which Resulted in
Rroken Necks-A I4-Year-Old Boys
SuccessfuI Feat-.A Circus Mans Bold
oher-The Requirements.
The first remembered attempt TO throw
triple somersault in this country was by
performer in Van Amburghs circus IN Mobile,
Ala. in 1912 He fell on his head and broke
his neck Another attempt was made IN
London, Eng, in 1876. 1t was made In
Astleys amphitheatre, then leased to Howe
& Gushing, the American managers. In the
company were Mr. L Lipman, fine vaulter,
now in Cincinnati; the late Levi J. North,
famous equestrian; the late William o. Dale,
an acrobat and equestrian, who afterwards
lost his sight and died at Cincinnati; and
William l. Hobbies, champion leaper. 1t
was previously announced that Hobbies would
attempt a triple, and the house was jammed-
He tried it, and was instantly killed.
The next to attempt the dangerous feat
was John Amor, who was born in the home
CT Dan Rice's father, near Girard, Pa Amor
Travelled for years in this country with Dan
Rice's circus, and in that day was considered
the greatest gymnast in America, If not in
the world. He was said to be the first per-
former in America to turn double sOmer-
sault over four horses. In 1859 he went 70
England and Travelled with a circus ell
through the United Kingdom In the same
year he attempted to turn triple somersault
at the Isle of Wight, but landed on his fore
head after he turned twice, and broke his neck
Billy Dutton performed the great feat while
a member of Lakes circus, at Elkhorn, Ills,
in 1860, at a rehearsal, in the presence Of John
Lowlow, tine famous clown Dntton was
ambitious to have it to say that he did it, but
did not make the attempt with the intention
of repeating it. He made the leap from
high spring board, and actually turned three
times Dutton was very proud, but sensibly
said that he would not try it again, and that
his alighting on his feet was an accident, as
he could not control his body after turning
the second time.
OTHER FATALITIES.
Frank Stark, who WAS reared by John
Robinson, the circus manager, undertook the
feat at the fair grounds in Indianapolis in
1870 for q wager of 500. In the first at
tempt he turned three times, but alighted on
his hands Everybody was satisfied with the
result, and the money was rendered him.
He proudly refused it, saying that the feat
had not been accomplished; that he would
repeat it, and alight upon his feet before he
felt sufficiently justified in taking the 500.
He did repeat it, but struck on his head, dis
locating his neck, and his death resulted in a
few hours afterward.
Bob Stickney, the Apollo Belvedere of the
modern arena, accomplished tine great feat at
the age of IA years, while practicing in the
Hippo theatre, on Fourteenth street, New
York in 1876. William Stein, at the time an
attache Of the circus, and who now, with his
wife, gives second sight" performance,
was one of the persons who held the common
woolen blanket upon which Stickney alighted.
Sam Bernhardt, of Columbus, O., q retired
leaper, while travelling with the Cooper and
Bailey circus, in 1910, became dissatisfied
with the double somersault feat, in which he
was an adept, and burned to perform the
triple At Toledo he announced that he would
make the attempt, and he did so, notwith-
standing the advice of his friends not to try
it. Sam made splendid high leap, actually
turned three times, but landed on his seat in
stead of his feet.
BOLD OFFER. ,
Bob Stickney, who is now travelling with
Forepaugh's circus, was interviewed in De-
troit last Decoration Day. He said:
Il did it once, as related in your article,
and although have confined myself to riding,
and have done no leaping for seven years.
can do it again. get the highest wages in
the profession, $3.50 week, but if any circus
manager will give lle $500 a week will en-
gage to attempt triple at every stand during
the tenting season l do not mean to make
the attempt more than once day, and only
in the daytime"
@Would you need any improved or original
apparatus?" was asked.
@No 1 would simply need the usual spring
board at five or six feet from the ground. But
l would need strong net, with fine meshes.
Farina introduced the net when he came to
this country in 1878, and in Barnum's circus
fired woman out of a cannon into the air. 1t
was really a very strong spring which elevated
the performer The net into which she fell
made the feat possible. If ever the triple
somersault can be made a daily performance,
it will be by means Of tbs net. If l under
took it l would have a straw mattress, ten
feet square and one foot thick, placed on the
ground about twenty feet from the spring
board. On this would have feather mat
tress of the same length and width, but about
two feet thick. On the top of the latter, and
touching it, l woulL have a strong net, with
meshes not more than one inch apart, and
strained perfectly ughG for SSOV week
would make daily after V at the afternoon
performances to accompll~ Ibis feat. But it
would seem that leaping sAs going out of
fashion nowadays Since we had fatal
accident at the opening of this season, Fore
paugh has discontinued the leapil. act alto
gether.n
That triple somersault was ever accom-
plished before circus audience after due an
nouncement, and under the same conditions
as double somersaults are performed, may be
seriously doubted.-St. Louis Globe-Demo-
crat.